Alarm for moving-picture reels



Aug. 19. 1924 R. E. WICKER ALARM FOR MOVING PICTURE HEELS Filed 001.. 25 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 w v R, ma/41am.

Aug. 19, 1924.

' R. E. WICKER ALARM FOR MOV ING;PICTURE HEELS Filed Oct. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' ZZZ) gwuamtoz mum, A

0 I attoz wag Patented Aug. 19, 1924.

UNITED STATES RASSIE E. WICKER, OF CAMERON, NORTH CAROLINA.

ALARM FOR MOVING-PICTURE REELS.

Application filed October 25, 1923. Serial No. 670,787.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RAssm E. lVIoKnR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cameron, in the county of Moore and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Alarms for Moving Picture Heels; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

In the operation of moving picture a paratus, it is desirable for obvious reasons that the operator be advised when the end of a film is about to be reached so that the next machine in order may be started or put in condition for instant service, whereby to prevent any appreciable break or interruption in the exhibition of a picture embodying two or more reels.

The invention contemplates an alarm mechanism associated with the reel and including a detent for preventing operation of the alarm and which is normally held in restraint by wind of the film upon the reel, said detent when released from restraint of the film automatically operating to release the alarm which gives warning that the end of the film is about to be reached so that the operator may take proper action as occasion may require.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent and suggest themselves as the nature of the invention is understood.

While the drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that in adapting the same to meet different conditions and requirements, various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the nature of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the application:

Figure 1 is a side view of the hub portion of a moving picture reel provided with an alarm mechanism embodying the invention,

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1, showing the parts on a larger scale,

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 2, and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the detent.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

The numeral 1 designates the axle upon which a moving picture reel is generally mounted. The reel comprises a hub 2, side plates 3 and 4, a drum 5 and outwardly disposed arms 6 between which the film 7 wound upon the drum 5 is received. In accordance with the present invention, a gong bell 7 is disposed within the drum'5 between the plates 3 and t and attached to the inner side of the drum. A sleeve 8 loosely mounted upon the hub 2, is provided with one or more hammers 9 disposed to strike the bell 7 and sound an alarm. 'One of the hammers 9 is provided with an oltstanding arm 10 which is'disposed within the path of a detent which normally prevents operation of they hammer and a sounding of an alarm. Move ment of the hammer in one direction is prevented by a pin 11 which constitutes a stop supported at its ends by the plates 3 and 4.

The detent is mounted at one side of the reel and comprises a pivot 12 and arms 13 and 1.4, the arm 14 being disposed to engage the arm 10 and the arm 13 being designed to extend across the reel and come between winds of the film 7 to be normally held in restraint thereby. A spring 15 mounted upon the pintle 12 has one end engaging the arm 14: and its opposite end engaging one of a pair of brackets 16 attached to the outer side or" the plate 1 and in which the pintle 12 is mounted. The arm 13 is in the form of a loop and is bent intermediate its ends to admit of a portion extending along the outer side of the plate 4 and a portion extending across the reel to be confined between winds of the film 7 The outer portion of the arm 13 is disposed a short distance from the drum 5 to admit of a few winds of the film 7* coming between it and the drum so that when the alarm is sounded by release of the arm 13, the operator is advised that the end of the film is near.

In practice, after the film 7 has been wound about the drum 5 of the reel a few times, the detent is adjusted so that the arm 13 extends across the reel to be engaged by the subsequent winds of the film, as shown most clearly in Figures 2 and 3. In this position of the detent, the arm 14 extends across the patlrof'the hammer 9 which is held between said arm and the stop 11. When the film is unwound from the reel and releases the arm-13 of the detent, thel/Vhat is claimed is:

1; An alarm for a moving picture reel,v

having a hubycomprising a bell carried by th'ereel, a hammer having a sleeve ournaled on said hub a spring actuateddetent pivotally mounted at one side of the reel comprising an arm adapted to engage the hams mer and an arm to be confined between winds of the film upon the reel'and releasable when the film is unwound to a predetermined extent from the reel to free the hammer which operates to sound an alarm.

2-. An alarm for moving picture reels,

comprising a bell positioned within and secured to the drum of the reel for movement therewith, a hammer pivoted to the hub-of the reel for movement with respect to the drum in. :the plane ofrotation thereof, means adapted to prevent the pivotal movementofithe hammer. inone direction with respect to the drum, and a detent carried by the reel and normally held in restraintby the film wound thereon and engaging the hammer to prevent pivotal movement thereof in the reverse direction with respect to the drum and releasable when the film is unwound to a predetermined extent from the reel to free the hammer for pivotal movement in said reverse direction to sound the alarm.

3. An alarm for: moving picture reels. comprising. a bell positioned within and' movable with the reel, a hammer positioned within the reel and mounted for movement withrespect to the reel in the plane of'rotation thereof, means adapted to prevent the movement of the hammer in one direction with respect to the reel, and a detent carried by the reel and normally held in restraint by the film Wound thereon and engaging. the hammer to prevent' movement thereof in the reverse direction with 'respect to the reel and releasable when the film is-unwound to a predetermined extent from the reel to freethe hammer for pivotal movement in said reverse direction to sound the alarm. 1

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses;

RASSI'E E. WVIGKER. Witnesses I RoswELL E. WIOKER, EDWARD T. VENo. 

